Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-26
SHALL WE HAVE COMMERCIAL UNION
WITH CANADA.

Mr.. Edward Atkinson proposes that the
United States Government buy New Bruins
wick, Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, and the
Prince Edward Islands. The sum he fixes
upon as necessary for the purchase is $50
100000. The New Brunswick and the
New England press in the main, favor the
proposition. But there is no likelihood
that the scheme will be consummated. The
people Of New Brunswick and Cape Breton
would certainly favor it, but there is no in
dication that those of Nova Scotia approve
of annexation by purchase or otherwise.
The American people have had no OPP
portunity to express their views on any
question of purchase, but we believe the
burden of public sentiment would be OPP
posed to the proposition. While it would
settle the fishery question effectually, it
would attach to us a population wholly
foreign to our political system, and which
could not be adapted to it in two or three
generations. The chief obstacle, however,
is the opposition of the English Govern
ment. Tories would never consent, and il
is probable all parties would unite upon
that question. Mr.. Chamberlain, sent out
to us. to adjust the fishing bank quarrel,
opposes even reciprocal relation under
treaty unless it includes England, and the
protection" sentiment here will not con-
sent to it going to that extent.
A vigorous effort is being made, how
ever, to establish commercial union with
Canada, and what may be said in favor of
it was best SAID by Erastus Wiman before
the Commercial Chambers of Detroit and
Buffalo last summer. That gentleman, in
an address two hours in length, stated the
case fully for the affirmative.
The customs line is 1000 miles in
length, and checks the passage
over it of the products and
manufactures of both countries. As there
would be no trade between the people of
the two sections except they found it to be
to their advantage, license, he holds, is
in the nature of the exaction, such as in
ancient days Governments demanded for
grants of trading privileges. OF course,
this appears to be an assault upon protec-
ton in its citadel but that is precisely
what the commercial unionists deny they
are doing, holding, as they do, that the
conditions in this case do not exist that
justify protection generally. The condi-
tons of the two countries, they hold, are
similar, the distinctions, indeed, being but
nominal; the two trade for mutual ad-
vantage, and barriers, therefore, are I'M
justifable.
So far as Canada's independence and re-
lation to the British Empire enters into
the question, the unionists hold that
Canada is commercially Independent to-
day. Exacting as she does duties from
English goods, as well as upon those from
Germany and the United States, she is
constantly demonstrating her commercial
independence. and her power to tax is
proof sufficient
Having this power as TO continental and
English imports, she is then competent to
form commercial union with her nearest
neighbor, separated from her only by Il
very narrow boundary. Canada can, there
fore, accomplish the union by adopting 4
tariff uniform with that of the United
States, as against ali the rest of the world,
and the result would be that around the
whole continent of North America there
would be erected uniform customs line.
while within the continent trade would
ebb and flow naturally and without in
pediments created by political barrier.
Not only, said Mr.. Wiman, will Canada
IN such contamination realize her highest
hope of growth but the United States of
America will be equally blessed, and
where now parts of the continent are in
accessible to its people, there would be
thrown open to them potentialities of
wealth beyond the confines of our own
land, and thus vastly enlarge the posi-
biities Of contributions to the greatness of
the Republic.
Canada has 5000 miles of coast fishing
fields, limitlesS forests of timber which we
need greatly to draw upon; nickel and
other mineral wealth, mountains of phoS-
pilates and miles upon miles of coal de-
posts. All these are near to the centers
of manufacture and trade in the United
States. Continues Mr. Wiman:
The truest and highest patriotism on both
sides OF the border is TO pursue that policy
which will to the greatest extent benefit each
country, and in all the range of human cir
cumstances it is impossible to conceive of an
event OF greater significance, to be followed by
consequences more benehcent, than the open
lfig up OF the vest stores of wealth in the
Northern Continent, and the freest commercial
intercourse be ween all portions of this.
heaven ; last best git to mankind. One cannot
re,lsI constantly quoting those seer-like words
az Emerson, when he said . We live in a new
and exceptional age America is new name
ior Opportunity. Its Whole history appears like
q last effort OF Divine Providence in behalf of
the human race Ii remains with the people
10 whom these words were uttered, aud whose
good fortune IL is 10 live ia this age and /. this
America, 10 say whether they viii content
themselves with ope-half of what God has pr--
yiaed toT their b. neht whether Anticipated and
utterly unnecessary forms OF taxation shall be
perAitled longer TO erect such barriers such n
dlFidiag Line between the inhabitants OF this
great contineut that its riches may be only mar
TALLY conferred aud that the effort Of iii,lli,,
lu,eution shall remain to be defeated by The
telhshness, or the stupidity of man.
He then proceeds to point out that time
and circumstances are favorable to COM
mercial unity or reciprocity. To the bald
proposition that Canada shall discriminate
against the country to which she owes
allegiance, he replies that Canada only
nominally belongs to Great Britain, and in
reality belongs to herself; that being in
all essential respects commercially indie
pendent, she is, in fact, but in name mart
and parcel of the British Empire. She
has adopted a trade policy diamets ically
opposed to that of Great Britain and 10
the Interests of British manufacturers and
it will be no greater departure for her to
say to the United States:
/ have great 7stores of products that you
greatly need. You are my next door ueighbor,